LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2026

ENTERTAINING

Small Talk The hottest trend in drinks is the tiny cocktail, a miniature version of classic-inspired drinks. These tiny tipples also happen to be the perfect welcome drink for any entertaining occasion.

BY CHRISTINE SISMONDO PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARREN KEMPER

APPLE CIDER SPRITZ P. 94

Trays for tiny ice spheres can often be found in dollar stores. Otherwise, roughly crushed ice will work just as well.

ONTARIO SPOTLIGHT Dry cider is riding a wave thanks to producers like Ontario’s Spy Cider House and Distillery, which creates this “orchard to table” cider that transforms apples grown on the shores of Georgian Bay into crisp and refreshing cider like Spy Golden Eye Dry Cider (LCBO 11674, 473 mL, $4.15).

so popular with bar pros and home hosts: mini drinks are lower in alcohol and can often be mostly prepped in advance. And, since tiny cocktails make great ice breakers, they’re a great way to get fall celebrations off to a fun start.

Forget super-sizing. At cool cocktail bars in Ontario and around the world, there’s a small-is-beautiful vibe currently trending, as bartenders adjust and modify recipes

FOOD STYLING BY LINDSAY GUSCOTT; PROP STYLING BY STACEY SMITHERS to work for small-format versions. It’s easy to see why so-called snacktails are

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AUTUMN 2026 ————————